Secrets of the Job Hunt

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

MILWAUKEE, WI, United States (UPI) -- Nearly half of all employers worldwide are having difficulty filling positions due to a lack of qualified applicants. U.S.-based Manpower Inc.surveyed nearly 33,000 employers in 23 nations and found that 40 percent of employers worldwide are having a hard time filling positions due to the lack of suitable talent available in their markets.

Employers with the most difficulties were in Mexico, with 78 percent; Canada, with 66 percent; and Japan with 58 percent, Manpower said Tuesday. India has the least problem attracting talent, with 13 percent of employers reporting difficulties.

'The talent shortage is becoming a reality for a larger number of employers around the world, and this is only going to get worse over the next several decades, as demographic shifts and other factors continue to reduce the number of people who are willing and able to participate in the workforce,' said Jeffrey A. Joerres, Manpower`s chief executive.

'The shortages are most acute across North America at this point, with employers in Europe and Asia currently feeling much less pressure to compete for employees.'